A better option for "SEND()"

[mr-es335]

Good day,

Over the past few months, I have been working with the "Send()" function.

As a result, I have been coming across "ControlSend()" as being a better option for "Send()". I have also recently come across "SendEx()" as another option. "Which of the above are preferred?"...and, more importantly..."Why?"

As a "side note", some of you are well aware of my working with RML Labs software installation, namely for SAC and SAW.
• RML Labs

I really-and-truly should have considered this current "scenario" at the outset, as such would have saved me - and sad-to-say, "others", from many, many arduous hours of getting this-and-or-that code to work!

I mean, asking the simple question, "What is the purpose of Autoit?"...generated the following response:

"AutoIt is a freeware scripting language designed for automating tasks in Microsoft Windows, particularly for simulating user interactions like keystrokes, mouse movements, and window manipulation. It is commonly used to create utility software, automate routine tasks, and perform system administration."

Thus, over the past few months, I have been automating the installation and configuration of the aforementioned RML Labs software.

Thus, before going "too far", I thought that it would be appropriate to ascertain which functions would be best suited for my "automating" purposes.

As always...any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all for your time!

[mr-es335]

Good day,

Following is an example of a rather somewhat "working" script - and by this I mean, that sometimes the Scene "Name", is displayed, sometimes not!!

Spoiler

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; -----------------------------------------------
#include <AutoItConstants.au3>
; -----------------------------------------------
Opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)
; -----------------------------------------------
Global $hSAC_SCENES = "[CLASS:SAC_SCENES]"
Global $hSAC_SCENEPROPERTIES = "[CLASS:SAC_SCENEPROPERTIES]"
; ---------------------
Global $iTimeOut = 100
; -----------------------------------------------
TheHeadingScenes()
; -----------------------------------------------
Func TheHeadingScenes()
    StartFinishHeadingScene()
    FadesHeadingScene()
    SetsHeadingScene()
    PresetsHeadingScene()
    ReturnToF12()
EndFunc   ;==>TheHeadingScenes
; -----------------------------------------------
Func StartFinishHeadingScene()
    CreateStartFinishHeadingSnapShot()
    ConfigureStartFinishHeadingProperties()
EndFunc   ;==>StartFinishHeadingScene
; -----------------------------------------------
Func CreateStartFinishHeadingSnapShot()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [New] > Enter Scene Name > [Ok]
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    MouseClick($MOUSE_CLICK_LEFT, 182, 116, 1, 0)
    ; ---------------------
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    ClipPut("====StartFinish Heading====")
    ; -----------------
    Send("{CTRLDOWN}")
    Send("v")
    Send("{CTRLUP}")
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>CreateStartFinishHeadingSnapShot
; -----------------------------------------------
Func ConfigureStartFinishHeadingProperties()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENEPROPERTIES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [OK]
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>ConfigureStartFinishHeadingProperties
; -----------------------------------------------
Func FadesHeadingScene()
    CreateFadesHeadingSnapShot()
    ConfigureFadesHeadingProperties()
EndFunc   ;==>FadesHeadingScene
; -----------------------------------------------
Func CreateFadesHeadingSnapShot()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [End Of List] > [New] > Enter Scene Name > [Ok]
    Send("{End}")
    ; ----------------------
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    MouseClick($MOUSE_CLICK_LEFT, 182, 116, 1, 0)
    ; ---------------------
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    ClipPut("====Fades Heading====")
    ; ---------------------
    Send("{CTRLDOWN}")
    Send("v")
    Send("{CTRLUP}")
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>CreateFadesHeadingSnapShot
; -----------------------------------------------
Func ConfigureFadesHeadingProperties()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENEPROPERTIES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [OK]
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>ConfigureFadesHeadingProperties
; -----------------------------------------------
Func SetsHeadingScene()
    CreateSetsHeadingSnapShot()
    ConfigureSetsHeadingProperties()
EndFunc   ;==>SetsHeadingScene
; -----------------------------------------------
Func CreateSetsHeadingSnapShot()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [End Of List] > [New] > Enter Scene Name > [Ok]
    Send("{End}")
    ; ----------------------
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    MouseClick($MOUSE_CLICK_LEFT, 182, 116, 1, 0)
    ; ---------------------
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    ClipPut("====Sets Heading====")
    ; -----------------
    Send("{CTRLDOWN}")
    Send("v")
    Send("{CTRLUP}")
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>CreateSetsHeadingSnapShot
; -----------------------------------------------
Func ConfigureSetsHeadingProperties()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENEPROPERTIES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [OK]
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>ConfigureSetsHeadingProperties
; -----------------------------------------------
Func PresetsHeadingScene()
    CreatePresetsHeadingSnapShot()
    ConfigurePresetsHeadingProperties()
EndFunc   ;==>PresetsHeadingScene
; -----------------------------------------------
Func CreatePresetsHeadingSnapShot()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [End Of List] > [New] > Enter Scene Name > [Ok]
    Send("{End}")
    ; ----------------------
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    MouseClick($MOUSE_CLICK_LEFT, 182, 116, 1, 0)
    ; ---------------------
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    ClipPut("====Presets Heading====")
    ; -----------------
    Send("{CTRLDOWN}")
    Send("v")
    Send("{CTRLUP}")
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>CreatePresetsHeadingSnapShot
; -----------------------------------------------
Func ConfigurePresetsHeadingProperties()
    WinActivate($hSAC_SCENEPROPERTIES)
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; [OK]
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{ENTER}")
EndFunc   ;==>ConfigurePresetsHeadingProperties
; -----------------------------------------------
Func ReturnToF12()
    WinActivate("[CLASS:SAC_MAIN]")
    ; -----------------------------------------------
    ; Return to F12
    Sleep($iTimeOut)
    Send("{F12}")
EndFunc   ;==>ReturnToF12
; -----------------------------------------------

 

Any ideas and/or suggestions?

[mLipok]

You should take a look for UIA :

 

Edited January 11 by mLipok

[ioa747]

I would suggest you to put a Sleep after each ClipPut
e.g.
ClipPut("====...====")
Sleep($iTimeOut)

and see how it goes

 

Edit:
I'll try to give you an image in your question.

Send(), Sends keystrokes to the active window.
Recommended for: Simple tasks where the target window has focus.

ControlSend(), Sends keystrokes directly to a specific control or window without bringing it to the foreground.
Recommended for: When you need to send keys to a background window or a specific control. Ideal for applications that do not require user interaction.
Take a look Why doesn't my script work on a locked workstation?

SendEx(), is nothing more than a wrapper around Send()
You could, for example, create your own SendEx($sKey, $iTimeOut = 0)
and instead of
Send("{End}")
Sleep($iTimeOut)
you could have SendEx("{End}", 100)
or SendEx("{End}") respectively without TimeOut.

Edited January 12 by ioa747
Edit:

[mr-es335]

iao747,

Thanks for the "tip"! Appreciated!

[mr-es335]

Hello,

I came across this...is this correct??

"Send is not a good method as it requires the window to be focused, which you can't guarantee. From what you have posted, I would say the best method would be this:
ControlClick("File Upload", "", "Button1")"

Source: [Click_Me]

[junkew]

For installation search for silent install or install it 1 time and zip the folder and unzip on another computer. For GUI interaction there is no one size fits all solution.

[mr-es335]

junkew,
Not too sure what you are inferring here?

[junkew]

You started in post 1 you are creating an installation script with autoit. Many products have a way of a silent install. Other products are not dependent on a windows registry and just get installed in 1 folder and as such easy to zip and unzip on another computer.

"Thus, over the past few months, I have been automating the installation and configuration of the aforementioned RML Labs software"

As such you have a focus on AutoIt whereas the 2 suggested options could be an alternative.

if you do it with AutoIt there are multiple ways to click a button or setvalues of textboxes. There are buttons and textboxes built with many different frameworks and some of those are less compatible.

search for sendmessage or WM_KEYBOARD or WM_MOUSE or keybd_event or java access bridge or uia automation. Its a very broad topic to remotely control other applications. See the faq in my signature.